Accept - to take or receive; receive with approval or favor
April is Autism Awareness month but I prefer to call it Autism Acceptance month. When Cade was diagnosed in 2007 I wasn't sure what to think or feel or do. I read everything that I could get my hands on: special diets, different therapies, causes, Jenny McCarthy (yes, sadly, I fell into that trap for a short period of time), "cures, fixes", the list goes on and on...
I was determined to find a way to "save" my son. Little did I know that I was the one who needed saving.
I want what every parent wants for their child. I want him to be happy, successful, kind, and to live a full life. What I needed to learn was that the picture in my head, my perfectionist fairytale, was not attainable. Not because of Autism, but because I needed to allow my children to be who God designed them to be. God created Cade for a purpose. I see that purpose in the eyes of every school personnel and therapist that has had the pleasure of working with Cade. I see that purpose in a 7 year olds smile that is pure. I see that purpose when his sister cheers him on. I see that purpose in myself, because Cade has opened my eyes and my heart to a completely different world.
I was the girl in WalMart or Applebees years ago that saw your screaming child and thought you didn't know how to be a parent. That's right, I'll admit it, I was judgemental. Take note that I used the word WAS. I became the girl that had to drag her child out of WalMart or Applebees (and countless other places) due to sensory overload or tantrum. I became the girl that others looked at with hateful eyes as they judged me thinking to themselves (and yes, on occasion out loud) that I was the bad parent. Now I am the girl that sees a child melting down somewhere and gives the mom or dad a look of compassion. I ask that if you are reading this that you do the same. By doing so you will reaffirm to that parent that the world is not working against them. Trust me, you will make their day and they will remember you and your kindness in their moment of panic and fear forever.
Do I ever get frustrated? You bet! I'm not perfect (shhh, don't tell my husband). Having Autism in my life has taught me to admire the small things, rejoice in every achievement, give compassion to others because you truly do not know what someone else is facing in their life, and accept.
Accept. Take and receive with approval and favor. My son does not need "fixing" and he does not need to be "cured". What he needs is to be accepted for who he is.
Love his contagious laugh!
In deep thought...
L O V E
